Bhikkhunīsaṁyutta Thematic Discourses about Nuns - Ancient ...

Atha kho Māro Pāpimā
Then the Wicked Māra
The Thematic Discourses about Nuns - 25
Selāya bhikkhuniyā bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo,
desiring to give rise to fear, terror, and horror in the nun Selā,
samādhimhā cāvetukāmo, yena Selā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkami,
desiring to drive her out of concentration, approached the nun Selā,
upasaṅkamitvā Selaṁ bhikkhuniṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
and after approaching he addressed the nun Selā with a verse:
“Kenidaṁ pakataṁ bimbaṁ, kva nu bimbassa kārako,
“By whom was this manikin made, 56 where is this manikin’s maker,
Kva nu bimbaṁ samuppannaṁ, kva nu bimbaṁ nirujjhatī?” ti
Where has this manikin 57 risen, and where does the manikin cease?”
Atha kho Selāya bhikkhuniyā etad-ahosi:
Then it occurred to the nun Selā:
“Ko nu khvāyaṁ manusso vā amanusso vā gāthaṁ bhāsatī?” ti
“Who is this, a human or a non-human, speaking this verse?”
Atha kho Selāya bhikkhuniyā etad-ahosi:
Then it occurred to the nun Selā:
“Māro kho ayaṁ Pāpimā
“This is the Wicked Māra
mama bhayaṁ chambhitattaṁ lomahaṁsaṁ uppādetukāmo,
desiring to give rise to fear, terror, and horror in me,
samādhimhā cāvetukāmo, gāthaṁ bhāsatī.” ti
desiring to drive me out of concentration, who speaks this verse.”
Atha kho Selā bhikkhunī: Māro ayaṁ Pāpimā iti viditvā,
Then the nun Selā having understood: This is the Wicked Māra,
Māraṁ Pāpimantaṁ gāthāhi paccabhāsi:
replied with these verses to the Wicked Māra:
56 Comm: kenidaṁ pakatan-ti kena idaṁ kataṁ; paraphrasing.
57 Comm: bimban-ti attabhāvaṁ sandhāya vadati; manikin is said in reference to selfhood.